Tire traction clamp



Sept. l5, 1953 B. H, LANTz y TIRE.' 'mcTIoN CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1950 mail? 'jr/Ce/[QHZ i ,MsLw

W W@ l 5 Patented Sept. 15, 1953 ...UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE l vTIRE TRACTION'CLAMP Brice H. Lanta, Valparaiso; Ind., assigner to'Lantz Manufacturing Company, Inc.; Valparaiso; Ind.,

alcorporation of Indiana --Application January 5, .1950, Serial No.l 136,903

4 Claims. l .7Thisinventionlrelates to a tire traction clamp for..applicationA tothe tire of a vehicle such as an automobile or truck, so that traction may be lhad for the tire of a wheel Vwhen the wheel is imbedded in mud yor whenthe vehicle is being used over ice and snow.

[The primaryobject voffthe present invention consists in the provision ofla new and novel form ofcimproved-tire `traction clamp which is providedwith a rimengaginglip adapted to t on the` under sidentl therim onthe inside of the l wheel and .having aclamping. action against the opposite side wall` of the tire,l whereby the-device may-'beeasily -appliedin `position and securely clamped-to the tire toprevent the device from 1 being thrown loiT whenthewheel spins and parzticularly whenthe. tire is wet, .and whereby the devicemay vfbefquickly.. andeasily removed 'from i' .the tire.

Anotherimportant-object'of the invention is the provision' of a traction device having clamping vmeans incorporatedtherewith'to cause the .Y Ydevice to be 4clamped securely'to thel tire, there `being va plurality of links pivotally interconnected so as to effect a locking operationof the links "when the 'pivotalconnectionbetween the links is on' one side= oith'eline between'their attaching ends' and toperrnit easy* removal of the clamp "er device from the'tire when the said pivotal connection `between the links vis 'moved to the other side oi the said line.

A iurtherfob'iect of the inventicn'resides in the provision of afdevicea'dapted-tobe applied to the V tirel of a vehiclewh'eel so thattraction may be maintaine'dlon ice-,-"sn'ow` or 'muddy places', there f being ani arm extending-bn one sid@` of the tire and terminating in a lip which engages the unf derside `o`i`the wheel' `rim 'of 'oneiside thereof, 'there beingialso aA clamping arm which has an adjustingelement `to 4permit therdevice to be applied to tires ofrvarying sizes and diameters.

A- Numerous other objects andfadvantages will be apparentthroughout the-'specioation which follows.

The accompanying ydrawings Iillustrate a ce1'- ltainselected embodimen-tycf the-invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. l is a detailed sectional View showing the rim andaccompanying tire'of a vehicle Wheel l and the manner in .which the tire traction device or clamp of the invention is applied;

` lg;V 2' is 'a view similar to'Fg. 1,' and showing the device in its'operative clampedposition;

" Fig; 3 is a `viewl'sirnila'rto Figs. l and 2 and showing the mannerin which' the device is re- 5 moved from the tire;

Fig. 4 is a detailed View looking in the direction L of the arrows l'-d of Fig. 1

' Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof aV part of the device, this partcomprising" one side armand' the traction bar;

Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective'vie-v showing certain linkageAAV mechanism for eieoting'the clamping operation ofthe device ofthe invention; and

Fig. 7 is a detailed perspectiveview of the clamp .arm or housing of the device; the said 4 clamp armi being'pivotally attached atene kend to the member shown in Fig. Y5i and pivotally supporting the structur'ediscl'osed in Fig. 6.

rihe particular device herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the"in'vention"comprises a curvedside` baror arm Ifwhioh" is bulged'outwardly, as 'shown inA the various guresso as to accommodate and receive the bulged side 'wall 2 i of a pneumatic vehicle tire 3. 'The lower` or' free end ofthe curvedsidearrn vVterrninates in an inwardly directed lip which is' adapted to engage the undersidel 5of the' rim t; upon which the tire 3 is mounted.

A traction bar i isA adapted to extend across .the tread 8 oi' the'tire 3 so as'to give traction Vto the wheel whenth'e vehicle is on a wet; icy,

- tends between the 'opposed'walls it; i6 of ahousing or-clainp lmemberV llof'. Figure YIThe' housing il is providedwith alignedholes l2, I2 which are in alignment with an opening l3.in the reduced .end S of the'tractionpair to receive -a pin, stud,.or bolt l4I-Fig. 4, whereby the housing il yis pivotally connected to the free'end of the traction bar l.

The inner edges of the opposed side walls It, l@ of the housing'orclarnp'arm H are Ycurved concavely, as Yindicated by the numerals l5, l5, Fig. '7. Connected between the lower ends of the opposed sidewalls Sill," IQ is an inner wall I6.

The inner surface of the wall ifi's ii'ushwith the inner edges hij iEof the opposedsidefwalls i6, it), So that the Wall i6 and' the edges l5, i5 may conform'with the curvature of the tirewall. The inner Wall it"preferably'extendsi'upwardly to a height which is-approximatelyequal to 5 half of the length of theli'oiisng 'orclampiarm H. The upperendi of the wall.` I6'. isprovided with an outwardly projecting ridge or boss I1 which serves as a stop for certain linkage mounted within the housing or clamp arm II.

The lower end of the housing or clamp arm II is provided with elongated slots I8 in its opposite side walls Iil through which a bolt, pin, or rivet I9 passes, the member I9 having limited movement throughout the length of the cooperating slots I8.

Linkage '20 is adapted to be arranged within the hollow housing or clamp arm II to effect a tightening or clamping action of the device on the vehicle wheel tire 3. This linkage 2li comprises a pair of spaced links 2 I, 2I which are arranged on opposite sides of a protruding tongue 22, Figs. 4 and 5, projecting outwardly from the reduced end S of the traction bar 'I. These links 2|, 2| are provided with aligned holes 23 which are in alignment with a hole 24 formed in the tongue 22 of the bar 1. A fastening pin such as a rivet 25 passes through the aligned holes 23 and 24 and pivotally secures the linkage 2B to the projecting tongue 22 on the bar 1. A link 26 is arranged between the two links 2l, 2| and is pivotally connected thereto by means of a pin '21, Fig. 6. The lower end of the link 26 is provided with a hole 28 which is in alignment with the opposed slots I8 in the housing or clamp arm II. The bolt or pin I9 passes through the aligned slots I8 and the hole 23 in the link 26 to pivotally secure the lower end of the linkage 2i! to the hollow housing or clamp arm l i.

The linkage 20 permits the device to be arranged in position about the tire 3 by first arranging the arm I on the inner side of the tire and in a position so that the lip d will underlie the bottom surface 5 of the rim 5 on one side thereof. When the device is arranged in that position, the traction bar 'l will overlie the outer surface or tread 8 of the tire and the parts will be in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 whereupon the links 2I, 2I and the link 25 will be in the angular position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The clamp arm or housing I I is then swung downwardly and inwardly to the solid line position of Fig. 1. The clamp arm or housing is then clamped in position by rst inserting a tool 29 in the space between the links 2I, 2l and then pressing downwardly on the tool so as to cause the linkage 20 to be pushed inwardly from the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. When the tool 29 is inserted to effect the clamping operation, its pointed end will fulcrum on the reduced end 9 and a part of the tool will abut against the upper arcuate surface of the link 26 whereupon the downward pressure of the tool engaging the upper arcuate surface of the link 25 will force the clamp arm II into clamping engagement as shown in Fig. 2.

In the clamping position shown in Fig. 2 the housing or clamp arm II is prevented from swinging or pivoting outwardly by virtue of the linkage 20 being arranged in the position shown in the same gure. In this position, the center of the pin 21 is disposed to the left hand side of the line which passes through the centers of the pins I9 and '25 and the link 26 abuts against the ridge or boss I'I. The reaction force exerted by the tire wall upon the housing or clamp arm II will maintain the linkage 2E) in the position of Fig. 2 until the said linkage is unlocked in the manner hereinafter described.

The device is provided with an adjustment so as to insure denite positive clamping action 4 as well as to make the device adjustable to accommodate tires of diilerent sizes. This adjustment comprises an adjusting bolt 30 which is threadedly received in a threaded bore 3I formed in the under cross bar 32 of the movable clamp arm or housing II. The upper end 33 of the bolt 30 is adapted to engage the lower curved surface of the link 26 as indicated at 34, Fig. 2. When the adjusting bolt 30 is screwed inwardly, it will shift the pin I9 longitudinally of the aligned slots I8, I8, that is, toward the upper end of the slots, whereupon the clamp arm or nous-- ing II is caused to move closer toward the arm I for better and further clamping, as well as for enabling the device to be applied to tires having relatively small diameters. In order that the device may be applied to tires of large diameters, the adjusting bolt 30 is screwed outwardly whereupon the space between the two arms I and II will be increased when the device is in clamping position. The amount of adjustment obtained by the operation of the adjusting bolt 30 is limited by the length of the slots I8, I8. After the device is applied in position as shown in Fig. 2, the tool or lever 29 is removed and the adjusting bolt 3i) is operated to insure tight clamping operation of the device against the tire. After the adjusting bolt has been operated to effect the proper clamping action, no further adjustment is necessary as the device will be left in its adjusted position to iit that particular tire.

When it is desired to remove the device from the tire, the tool 29 is inserted beneath the lower curved or arcuate ends of either of the links 2| with the pin or bolt I9 acting as a fulcrum for the tool. Thus, downward pressure of the tool will force the linkage 2D to be pulled outwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the housing or clamp arm II is free to be shifted to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to permit easy removal of the traction device from the wheel.

It has been found in actual practice that there will be a considerable drag or pressure on the device when a vehicle on which it is mounted is stuck on ice, snow, or imbedded in mud. The device, however, will not be thrown off the wheel. It will creep slightly during traction so as to change its position on the wheel. Wear on the tire at one place is thus avoided. The device may creep about the circumference of the tire, but under no conditions will the tire spin within the device, when the device is properly clamped on the tire.

rIhe device is inexpensively constructed, is easy to apply and remove, and denitely and positively remains secured to the tire. This is true regardless of the amount of traction which is applied. The device therefore is a positive means for preventing the tire from spinning when on slippery surfaces and prevents the vehicle from becoming stuck. As soon as the vehicle is out of its entire spinning position and again is in normal traction position, the device is removed. However, if the vehicle is to be run over soft wet ground, the device may be permitted to remain in place, but it is desirable that the device be removed when the vehicle is being moved over solid ground or hard pavement.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, and all such changes may be made as fall fairly within the scope of the claims which follow.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A tire traction device for a rim mounted tire comprising a rigid arm formed to extend transversely across the inner side wall of the tire, a rigid lip on the arm in position to engage the inner side of the wheel rim on which the tire is mounted, a rigid traction bar integral with the arm and disposed in position to extend transversely across the tread of the tire, a movable arm pivoted to the end of the bar and having a portion forming a shoe for engagement with the outer side wall of the tire, and a pair of toggle links having pivotally interconnected ends and pivot remote ends, said pivot remote ends being respectively pivoted on said bar and on said movable arm, said links being operable, by movement of the pivotally interconnected ends thereof inwardly, to clamp said shoe against the outer side wall of the tire and thereby clamp the tire between said arms to thus secure the device upon a rim mounted tire, and to release the device from mounted position in response to outward movement of the pivotally interconnected ends of the links.

2. A tire traction device comprising a rigid arm formed to extend transversely across the inner side wall of a tire, a rigid lip on the arm in position to engage the inner side of a wheel rim upon which the tire is mounted, a rigid traction bar integral with the arm in position to extend transversely across the tread of a tire, a movable arm pivoted to the end of the bar, said arm having a shoe for engagement with the outer side wall of the tire, clamping means carried by said movable arm to lock said movable arm in rigid position with respect to the bar, with the shoe in irictional engagement with the outer side wall of the tire when the clamping means is arranged in locking position, and screw means co-operating with the clamping means to maintain the movable arm closer to or farther away from the outer side wall, whereby tires of various diameters may be accommodated by said traction device.

3. A traction clamp adapted for application to a tire mounted on the rim of a wheel and comprising a rigid curved inner arm formed to extend transversely across the inner side wall of the tire, a projecting integral lip on the lower end of the inner arm in position to engage the inner side of a wheel rim on which the tire is mounted, a rigid traction bar integral with the inner arm in position to extend transversely across the tread of the tire, an outer arm pivoted to the end of the traction bar and having its inner side lcurved to form a shoe in position to engage the outer side wall of the tire, and clamping means to clamp the device to the tire and squeeze the tire between said arms, said clamping means comprising a rst link having its outer end pivoted to said traction bar, and a second link having its inner end pivoted to the inner end of the iirst link, the outer end of the second link being pivotally and slidably connected to said outer arm.

4. A traction clamp adapted for application to a tire mounted on the rim of a wheel and compr-ising a rigid curved inner arm formed to extend transversely across the inner side wall of the tire, a projecting integral lip on the lower end of the inner arm in position to engage the inner side of a wheel rim on which the tire is mounted, a rigid traction bar integral with the inner arm in position to extend transversely across the tread of the tire, an outer arm pivoted to the end of the traction bar and having its inner side curved to form a shoe in position to engage the outer side wall of the tire, and clamping means to clamp the device to the tire and squeeze the tire between said arms, said clamping means comprising a rst link having its outer end pivoted to said traction bar, and a second link having its inner end pivoted to the inner end of the rst link, the outer end of the second link being pivotally and slidably connected to said outer arm, and an adjusting screw threadedly engaging the outer arm and engaging the outer end of the second link to adjustably limit the slidable movement of the second link.

BRICE H. LANTZ.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,574,791 Clark Mar. 2, 1926 1,775,211 Pearson Sept. 9, 1930 1,946,846 Gebhart Feb. 13, 1934 2,447,357 Mosley Aug. 17, 1948 

